Man arrested for impersonating LAPD in video

The man was arrested after video of him taunting protestors in LAPD paraphernalia surfaced on social media

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A man who authorities say was recorded antagonizing demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in January has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer.

Daniel Sohn, 36, was arrested Friday by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies after they noticed that he was wearing a shirt with the Los Angeles Police Department logo and recognized him as the man in the video, authorities said in a press release .

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The video posted on social media last month shows an Asian man who appears to be wearing the same shirt and chanting "white power" to people. The group was protesting the fatal shooting in October of an unarmed black man by an LAPD officer inside a gym.

Sheriff's Deputy Joana Warren said Sohn told the deputies he regularly poses as an officer to get respect. Investigators were seeking additional witnesses who may have been told by Sohn that he was an officer, Warren said.

Sohn was released on $2,500 bail. Warren didn't know whether he has an attorney.

As the video circulated online, the LAPD quickly said he was not a member of its force and that the shirt he was wearing was not official attire.

"The apparel worn by the individual, specifically the T-shirt with LAPD insignia, is not department issued and is accessible to the public," the department said. "We will be working with our Entertainment Trademark Unit to ensure violations of our trademark on apparel are addressed."